Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Fort Wayne, IN versus $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 23% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$798
$750
+6% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$782
$857
+10% in Rochester, NY
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,114
+13% in Rochester, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,240
+13% in Rochester, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$120,600
+29% in Fort Wayne, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$46,628
+23% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$51,210
+7% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
33.5 yr
+1.5 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
37.2%
+25.0 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
29.9%
+1.4 pp in Rochester, NY
Avg Commute
21.4 min
18.9 min
+2.5 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
690
+123% in Rochester, NY
Property Crime
2,245.4
3,533.4
+57% in Rochester, NY

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.5°F
48.2°F
+2.3°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
34.3 in
+4.1 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.04/gal
+3% in Rochester, NY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
29.9
+65% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$22.74
+66% in Rochester, NY

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Rochester, NY
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Rochester, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Rochester, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Rochester, NY

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / NY)
7%
4%
+3.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
10.90%
+8.0 pp in NY

Fort Wayne vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Rochester?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Rochester?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).